Poets&Quants has announced their Best & Brightest Online MBAs: Class of 2025, and two Gies College of Business iMBA students landed spots on the prestigious list. Christina Reed and Malcolm Wilson were recognized as standouts in online MBA programs across the country.

Christina Reed (right), 31, an Illinois grad with a BS in Communication and a military veteran of the Army National Guard, compared her experience in an online program with her on-campus experience, “It is easy for me to compare attending University of Illinois online from my living room to sitting in a classroom on campus. The quality of the content and professors were equally professional in both settings, and I truly felt I got the same level of education,” she said.

The flexibility of the iMBA program at Gies Business is one of its biggest draws for working professionals, but another often unseen benefit is its unique opportunities for connection. “Most people assume that being in an online program means the closest you will get to connecting in real life, is through Zoom. However, outside of the numerous virtual networking events, there were also multiple in-person options that were available,” says Reed. “One highlight for me was the pleasure to attend a capstone immersion in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa. The team building and collaboration with the 38 other MBA candidates allowed us to take concepts we had learned throughout our courses and apply them to a real-life business scenario.”

Reed earned two promotions at her organization, SAP Fieldglass, while completing her MBA at Gies Business. “My first promotion happened after my first series of classes, and I was promoted from Senior to Principal Consultant. My second promotion occurred right before graduation to a higher tier level. These were a direct result of applying MBA program material into my work to help solve real problems,” she said.

Malcolm Wilson (right), 35, of Chicago, Illinois, currently serves at YES Prep Public Schools, where he has built a career rooted in education, data, and strategic leadership. His drive to pair analytical thinking with a people-first approach is a hallmark of both his professional and academic journey.

“I love solving problems, building relationships, and helping make ideas happen,” said Wilson, reflecting on his career and MBA experience.

Wilson enrolled in the Gies Business iMBA program to enhance his skills without stepping away from his full-time career or personal responsibilities. “I chose this program because it gave me the flexibility to keep working full time while earning a respected degree,” he said. “The curriculum has a strong focus on business analytics and leadership, which were two areas I knew would be essential for the kind of impact I wanted to make in the next chapter of my career.”

Throughout the program, Wilson felt one of the highlights was the deep sense of community. “We came from different industries, time zones, and walks of life. However, we showed up for each other in group projects, late night team chats, and weekend meetings,” he shared.

The flexibility of the Gies Business iMBA program allowed Wilson to balance his studies with a full-time job and growing family, including preparing for fatherhood. He credits the experience with making him more strategic in his approach to professional challenges: “I now analyze challenges with a mix of data and big picture thinking.”

Wilson aspires to lead strategy and analytics at a mission-driven company where business, technology, and impact converge. “I want to keep growing in roles where I can help teams make smarter decisions that in return help the business,” he said.

Congratulations to Christina Reed and Malcolm Wilson on this well-earned recognition and for graduating with an MBA from Gies Business. As working professionals eagerly accelerating their careers, each story serves as a great example of what it means to pursue business on purpose.